ALARMS SET: Gunnedah Fire Station Commander Rod Byrnes with fire fighters Mark Sawyer, Paul Hartley, David Moses and David Welch. Photo: Vanessa Hohnke, The Namoi Valley IndependentThe region’s fire stations will open their doors to young and old for the annual NSW Fire and Rescue Open Day today.

With firefighting demonstrations, station tours and the opportunity to see a fire truck up close on offer, there’s plenty to see and do, Gunnedah Fire Station Commander Rod Byrnes said.

“There’s a free sausages sizzle and also some public giveaways. Lego have come on board this year with some packs for the kids to put together, “he said.

“The kids just love the open days – they love to get into the fire truck.”

And, while it might be all fun and games for the kids, Commander Byrnes said there was a serious side to the open days with pamphlets and fire safety advice for parents.

“We hand out pamphlets on awareness and evacuation plans for the home and information on smoke detectors and so on,” he said.

“As it is the tenth year that smoke detectors have been mandatory in the home, we want to make people aware of the new style of photoelectric smoke alarm that is more sensitive to smoke and works better.

“This year we’re encouraging residents to replace their out-dated alarms.”